‘Govt Showing Colonial Mindset In Leh’

At a press conference held at Delhi’s Press Club, civil society members and activists accused the BJP-led NDA government of treating the people of Ladakh with a “colonial mindset” and weakening the security of India’s border states. Political activist Yogendra Yadav was vocal in his criticism, stating, “The people of Ladakh are demanding dignity and democracy, but the Modi government is only counting money.” He warned the government to be “grateful Ladakh has not gone the way of Manipur,” highlighting the growing unrest in border regions.

Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan also condemned the government’s actions, particularly the arrest of climate activist and educationist Sonam Wangchuk under the National Security Act (NSA). Bhushan called the detention “illegal and unjust,” pointing out procedural lapses: “Even after five days, the detention order has not been served. This is against the law and principles of justice.” He added that Wangchuk’s wife had not been formally informed of his arrest, describing the detention as “arbitrary.” Bhushan explained, “There is no evidence against him. Under the NSA, the government doesn’t need evidence — mere suspicion is enough. That is why he was arrested under the NSA.”

Yadav further accused the Modi government of destabilising sensitive frontier regions, saying, “Be it Manipur, Assam, or Ladakh — every border state has become unstable under Modi’s reign.” He rejected the BJP’s claim that Wangchuk was responsible for the recent violence in Leh, asserting, “In fact, the opposite is true. Wangchuk helped stop the violence. He showed courage by immediately calling off the protest after the violence.”

When asked if the government fears a mass movement against it, Yadav responded, “There is no doubt about it.” Quoting revolutionary poet Gorakh Pandey, he added, “The government’s real fear is that people will stop being afraid of it.”

The speakers demanded Wangchuk’s immediate release and urged the government to address Ladakh’s long-standing aspirations, including statehood and the establishment of an Assembly. “These are not Wangchuk’s personal demands; they reflect the collective voice of the people of Leh and Ladakh,” they stressed.

Meanwhile, Wangchuk’s wife Gitanjali Angmo accused authorities of creating a “fabricated narrative” to deflect from Ladakh’s demand for Sixth Schedule status and to scapegoat her husband. She condemned Ladakh DGP S.D. Singh Jamwal’s allegations linking Wangchuk to Pakistan, calling them “baseless and widely rejected in Ladakh.”

Questioning the handling of the September 24 protests, she asked, “Who ordered the CRPF to open fire on their own people — especially in a region that has never witnessed violent protests?” She revealed that the harassment and “witch hunt” began four years ago when her husband started reminding the government about the need for a legislature in the Union Territory and inclusion in the Sixth Schedule.